A Recurrent Stop-Codon Mutation in Succinate Dehydrogenase Subunit B Gene in Normal Peripheral Blood and Childhood T-Cell Acute Leukemia

BACKGROUND: Somatic cytidine mutations in normal mammalian nuclear genes occur during antibody diversification in B lymphocytes and generate an isoform of apolipoprotein B in intestinal cells by RNA editing. Here, I describe that succinate dehydrogenase (SDH; mitochondrial complex II) subunit B gene (SDHB) is somatically mutated at a cytidine residue in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and T-cell acute leukemia. Germ line mutations in the SDHB, SDHC or SDHD genes cause hereditary paraganglioma (PGL) tumors which show constitutive activation of homeostatic mechanisms induced by oxygen deprivation (hypoxia). PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To determine the prevalence of a mutation identified in the SDHB mRNA, 180 samples are tested. An SDHB stop-codon mutation c.136C>T (R46X) is present in a significant fraction (average = 5.8%, range = less than 1 to 30%, n = 52) of the mRNAs obtained from PBMCs. In contrast, the R46X mutation is present in the genomic DNA of PBMCs at very low levels. Examination of the PBMC cell-type subsets identifies monocytes and natural killer (NK) cells as primary sources of the mutant transcript, although lesser contributions also come from B and T lymphocytes. Transcript sequence analyses in leukemic cell lines derived from monocyte, NK, T and B cells indicate that the mutational mechanism targeting SDHB is operational in T-cell acute leukemia. Accordingly, substantial levels (more than 3%) of the mutant SDHB transcripts are detected in five of 20 primary childhood T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) bone marrow samples, but in none of 20 B-ALL samples. In addition, distinct heterozygous SDHB missense DNA mutations are identified in Jurkat and TALL-104 cell lines which are derived from T-ALLs. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of a recurrent, inactivating stop-codon mutation in the SDHB gene in normal blood cells suggests that SDHB is targeted by a cytidine deaminase enzyme. The SDHB mutations in normal PBMCs and leukemic T cells might play a role in cellular pre-adaptation to hypoxia

Cultivation of Agaricus bisporus on wheat straw and waste tea leaves based composts and locally available casing materials Part III: Dry matter, protein, and carbohydrate contents of Agaricus bisporus

This study was performed to determine the effects of composts and casing materials on dry matter, protein, and carbohydrate contents of the fruit bodies of Agaricus bisporus. Results showed that Agaricus bisporus cultivated on group I and group II casing soil groups showed remarkably higher dry matter and carbohydrate contents compared to other casing groups. No significant differences were found among casing soil groups in terms of protein content of Agaricus bisporus cultivated on wheatstraw. But, there were significant differences between casing soil groups in terms of protein content of Agaricus bisporus cultivated on waste tea leaves

Yield response of mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) on wheat straw and waste tea leaves based composts using supplements of some locally available peats and their mixture with some secondary casing materials

The study was conducted to investigate yields of mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) on wheat straw and waste tea leaves based composts. Mixtures (50:50, v/v) of some locally available peats including peat ofBolu (PB), peat of Agacbasi (PA), peat of Caykara (PC) and their mixture (80:20; v/v) with which piece of mosaic and sand were used. Also, some activator materials such as wheat bran, wheat chaff, chickenmanure, pigeon manure, and poplar leaves were used for A. bisporus cultivation. The results on wheat straw based composts provided the highest mushroom yield (23.01%) that was obtained on wheat strawand pigeon manure based compost using a mixture of PA with PC (50+50; v/v) as casing material. For waste tea leaves based composts, the highest mushroom yield (24.90%) were recorded on wheat straw and pigeon manure based compost using a mixture of PC with sand (80+20; v/v) as casing material

RNA Editing in Pathogenesis of Cancer

Several adenosine or cytidine deaminase enzymes deaminate transcript sequences in a cell type or environment-dependent manner by a programmed process called RNA editing. RNA editing enzymes catalyze A>I or C>U transcript alterations and have the potential to change protein coding sequences. In this brief review, we highlight some recent work that shows aberrant patterns of RNA editing in cancer. Transcriptome sequencing studies reveal increased or decreased global RNA editing levels depending on the tumor type. Altered RNA editing in cancer cells may provide a selective advantage for tumor growth and resistance to apoptosis. RNA editing may promote cancer by dynamically recoding oncogenic genes, regulating oncogenic gene expression by noncoding RNA and miRNA editing, or by transcriptome scale changes in RNA editing levels that may affect innate immune signaling. Although RNA editing markedly increases complexity of the cancer cell transcriptomes, cancer-specific recoding RNA editing events have yet to be discovered. Epitranscriptomic changes by RNA editing in cancer represent a novel mechanism contributing to sequence diversity independently of DNA mutations. Therefore, RNA editing studies should complement genome sequence data to understand the full impact of nucleic acid sequence alterations in cancer

Cultivation of Agaricus bisporus on wheat straw and waste tea leaves based compost formulas using wheat chaff as activator material

This study was designed to determine the pin head formation time and yield values of Agaricus bisporus on some casing materials. Composts were prepared basically from wheat straw and waste tea leaves by using wheat chaff as activator substance. Temperatures of the compost formulas were measured during composting at various depths in order to determine the compostability level. Results showed that in both compost types, maximum temperature values were recorded in the second turning stage. Composting was completed in 21 days for both composts. While the fastest pin head formation (12.50 days) was obtained on wheat straw based compost using peat of Bolu (PB) and peat of Agacbasi (PA) (50+50; in volume); waste tea leaves based compost using peat of Caykara (PC) and forest soil (FS) mixture (50+50; in volume) as casing material gave the fastest pin head formation (13.25 days). In terms of yield, a mixture of peat of Bolu and peat of Agacbasi (PA) (50+50; in volume) gave the highest yieldfor wheat straw based compost, a mixture of peat of Agacbasi and perlite (P) (80+20; involume) had the highest yield for waste tea leaves based compost

An investigation on pin head formation time of Agaricus bisporus on wheat straw and waste tea leaves based composts using some locally available peat materials and secondary casing materials

This study was designed to determine pin head formation time of Agaricus bisporus on wheat straw and waste tea leaves based composts. Locally available peat materials such as peat of Bolu (PB), peat of Agacbasi (PA), peat of Caykara (PC), and their mixture (80:20; v:v) with piece of mosaic (PM), perlite (P), and sand (S) were used as secondary casing materials. Also, some activator materials such aswheat bran, chicken manure, and pigeon manure were used for A. bisporus cultivation. For wheat straw based composts, the fastest pin head formation times were observed with a mixture of PA with PMcasing material on wheat straw and chicken manure based compost and with PA casing material on wheat straw and pigeon manure based compost. For waste tea leaves based composts, the fastest pinhead formation times were obtained with a mixture of PA with PM and PC with PM on waste tea leaves and chicken manure based compost. Generally, when peat materials were used in combination witheach other, the period of pin head formation times shortened compared to their individual use. A mixture of forest soil with sand (80 + 20; in volume) gave the worst results in terms of pin head formation times for both composts. In secondary casing materials, PM gave the best results in terms of pin head formation time for both composts

Cultivation of Agaricus bisporus on some compost formulas and locally available casing materials. Part II: Waste tea leaves based compost formulas and locally available casing materials

Three compost formulas (formula I, formula II, and formula III) based waste tea leaves and using some activator materials such as wheat bran, chicken manure and pigeon manure were studied for Agaricusbisporus cultivation. Some locally available peats such as peat of Bolu, peat of Agacbasi, peat of Caykara and theirs mixture (80:20; volume : volume) with perlite were used. Temperature values of allcompost formulas during composting process were measured to determine the compostability level. According to results, compost temparature steadily increased until the 8th, 9th, and 9th day ofcomposting for formula I, formula II, and formula III, respectively. The maximum compost temperature values were measured for all compost formulas at the second turning stage of composting process.The highest compost temperature values were measured prepared from a mixture of waste tea leaves and wheat bran (formula I). The best mushroom yield was obtained by a mixture of waste tea leaves andpigeon manure with the peat of Caykara and perlite mixture as casing material. Peat of Caykara gave higher mushroom yield than those of other peats

A Very Early "fashion": Neolithic Stone Bracelets from a Mediterranean Perspective

Ring-shaped objects, used mainly as bracelets, appear in the archaeological record associated with the first farming societies around the Mediterranean area. These bracelets, among other personal ornaments, are related to the spread of the farming economy in the Mediterranean (10th-6th millennium BC). In particular, stone bracelets, given their intricate technology, are linked with the early stages of craft specialization and the beginnings of complex social organization. Likewise, their frequency in Early Neolithic assemblages and the lithologies in which they were made have become an important element in the study of the circulation networks of goods, as well as the symbolic behaviors and aesthetic preferences of the first farming groups. This research provides the first overview of the stone bracelets of Neolithic groups in the Mediterranean. We compare the similarities and differences among these ornaments in different geographical zones across the region including Turkey, Greece, Italy, and Spain. Using all the information available about these ornaments - chronology, typology, raw materials and manufacturing processes, use-wear, repair, and alteration practices - we shed light on a complex archaeological trans-cultural manifestation related to the spread of the Neolithic lifestyle across the European continent

Cultivation of Agaricus bisporus on some compost formulas and locally available casing materials. Part I: Wheat straw based compost formulas and locally available casing materials

Three compost formulas; wheat straw based and using different activator materials such as wheat brain, chicken manure, and pigeon manure were used for Agaricus bisporus cultivation. Locallyavailable casing materials such as peat of Bolu, peat of Agacbasi, peat of Caykara, and their mixture (80:20; v:v) with perlite were used. Temperature degrees of all of compost formulas were measuredduring composting at various depth in order to determine the compostability level. Results showed that inner compost temparature increased until the 8th and 9th day of composting for formula I, formula II, and formula III composts, respectively. The maximum inner compost temperature degrees were measured for all compost formulas at the second turning stage of composting. The highest mushroom yield (1707.2 g) was recorded by wheat straw mixed with pigeon manure with the peat of Caykara and perlite mixture as casing material

Cultivation of Agaricus bisporus on wheat straw and waste tea leaves based composts using poplar leaves as activator material

This study was carried out to determine pin head formation time and mushroom yield of Agaricus bisporus on some casing materials. Composts were prepared basically from wheat straw and waste tealeaves using poplar leaves as activator material. In this study, moreover, in order to follow the evolution of the composting process, daily temperature measurements were taken. According to the results of the study, in both compost types, maximum temperature values were observed in the second turning stage. While in the first and second turning stages, inner-pile temperature of the compost was in atendency of exhibiting steady increase, they are prone to decrease in the following turning stages. In both composts, the period of composting has finished in 19 days. While the fastest pin head formation(13 days) was obtained on wheat straw based compost using peat of Caykara (PC) and forest soil (FS) (50+50; in volume); waste tea leaves based compost using peat of Bolu (PB) and peat of Caykara (PC)mixture (50+50; in volume) as casing material gave the fastest pin head formation (13.30 days). While, a mixture of peat of Agacbasi (PA) and perlite (P) gave the highest yield for wheat straw based compost,peat of Bolu shows the highest yield for waste tea leaves based compost